CLOSE | Contemporary Art Gallery

Contemporary art in rural Somerset isn't where you'd typically expect to find it, but CLOSE gallery near Taunton proves there's serious work happening well away from the London circuit. The space focuses on current visual art - sculpture, painting, installation - and it's the kind of place where you actually feel the artists care about what they're showing rather than just filling wall space.

You'll want a good couple of hours here if you're genuinely interested in what's on. The gallery itself is compact enough that you won't feel overwhelmed, but generous enough that rushed visitors will miss half the point. Worth checking their current exhibition before you go - what's on when you visit will shape the experience entirely.

For families with older kids who actually engage with art rather than just run round, this beats the usual tourist trail. Younger children will get restless fast. The real audience here is art-minded adults - people staying at Ashe Farm or one of the other caravan sites dotted around the Somerset Levels who want something more considered than yet another country house.

Taunton's only a few minutes away if you need supplies or lunch afterwards. Free admission would be typical for a gallery of this size, though confirm that before you arrive. Summer months feel like the natural time to visit - driving through the Levels to get here is actually rather pleasant when the weather's decent. If you're basing yourself at Holly Bush or Cornish Farm for a week, slot this in for an afternoon when the light's good. It won't be the highlight of your trip, but it's the kind of detour that stops a caravan holiday feeling entirely conventional.